Puddling machine



Aug. 14, 1934. s. R. BLAcKwELL PUDDLING MACHINE Filed Jan.. 16, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet l V/m/fe-/vrma 5. A? EL ,4c/fwn Ll /l fr0/WMV R, NN

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Aug 14, 1934 s. R. BLAcKwl-:LL 1,970,486

PUDDLING MACHINE Aug. 14,

PUDDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 14,1934 intatta IPUDDLING MACHINE E Stephen -R. Blackwell, East'. smLcis,Ill.

.Application January -16, 1932, .Serial.'.N0.'.587118 (Gl.f"6163) .Thisinvention. relatesgenerally topu'ddlingrmachimes for saturating-.andisettling` earthLin 'highways, railroad fills, levees,`etc/,the.predominant .object of.theinventionrbeingto produce arrim-`proved machine :of the type which .includes wa- Jter conductors that.arearrangedato penetrate'the ground. and discharge water thereintoandwhich will perf orm the "function for whichitz is intended in a veryeicient manner. The iinvention of thepresent. applicaticnis animprovementon the `machine :disclosed 'in `an application bearingvSerial Number 515,391 iiledinmy name on February vl2, 1931,lthe'present invention including :features which .improve.thesstructureand e'- ciency of the v fnaclfiine as. disclcsedin" theearlier application.

Fig. lis a side elevation oftheimproved .puddling machine.

Fig. `2 isa rear elevationofithemachine i1lus- -tratedin Fig. '1.

.'Fig. 3 is anenlarged fragmentaryy detail, :partly in section andvpartlyv inelevation, -showing one 1 of the cylinders .of the machinetogether .with ithe Avalve means L'for controlling passagerofwater ttoand'frornfsaid cylinder.

Fig. e is .ia "fragmentarysectional .view taken vthrouglrcniefofthe'cylinders of the machineand Villustrating partsassociatedrtherewith.

Fig. 5 Yis 4a fragmentary v'detail illustratingzthe means for indicating`the depth to which '.tne .plungers have been moved.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail illustrating the.means .for indicating whetherorcnot Water'is passing through certainconductors `of themachine.

Fig. "7 is a sidefelevationshowingthe `machine in a collapsed condition-fortransportation along highways.

Fig. 8 `is an end view 'of the machine iin'ithe condition illustrated inFig. '7.

uFig. 9 is a horizontalsectional 'detail `illustrating the 'manner in`whichthecylinders arelhingedly supported.

In .the drawings, Whereinisfshown `for Lthefpurpose of illustration,merely, :one -embodiment Tof .the invention, :A '.designatesimy.improved pud- .dling machine generally, saidmachine .including Aasuitable supporting truck "1 provided with ground wheels :2 and "havingsuitable 'connecting means 3, whereby 'said :supporting trucksm'aybeattached to a tractor or other apparatus formoving thernachine along.a-road when in use and for transporting same from place to fplace. The

truck 11 includes arectangular frame produced '0D preferably `byassembled channel :beams, fandaextended upwardly'from said? frame 4fis-.fa .plurality ofsupportingrbe'ams Y5. At'the upper ends ofthe:supporting beamsf is a; pair; of-channel beams 6 .which'are :spacedtransversely off the machineand extend ."longit'udinally thereof, asvshown most clearly: iniFigs. A2 and-'8,'Ysaid' beams bein'g'locatedfabove'the .opposite sides :of'theitruck l-asf shown `in the .viewsreferred to. The :structure `supn ',ported'by the truck @lhasrassociatedwith it a .plurality :of bracing elements I'l` whichl are-secured:toisaid truckand to'beamsuof the'structure so as -gi-ve-:to saidstructure thenecessary rigidity. ,Supportedby .thechannel beams(Brand-extendedtransversely of theinachine-*is a;pair of .angle fbeains:8 rand "8f, the beam 8 being 'located Aat .thefront'of' the machinean'dthe beam Bbeing located at the rear of said machine. The-angle beams -8.'.and18 yareeach provided with a.plu1 -rality :of bearing portions 9through each of whichafcircular opening is formed, 'these bearinglportions preferably, thoughinot necessarily, being `located z atopposite .ends :of :the angle beams.

Supported 'by fthe :angle beam :8 Iat the 'iront 'of Athe 'smachine isra fplurality of v4cylinders .10, preferably :.aapair thereof, which inthe normal .use io'f the machine .are disposed in substantiallyperpendicular 4:positions "with .respect to the igroun'd, .and supported.:by :the angle beam 8 at :.theirear o'f'the machineLisfa plurality or"simi- 'lar l cylinders Yl1, :preferably 'three of such cylin-.dersgwhichare'likewse normallydisposed in substantially "perpendicular.positions with `respect to .the ground. .The cylindersl1):are-'directly supfportedbya tubular-.elementlZ which is supported atits oppositezendsl'by .ithezbearings 9 Aof the -angle f.beam-.8. 'Aswillpresently-appear herein., the:` arrangement ofthe-.cylinders .l0 v`with'respect tothe tubular element .12 '.issuch thatsaid cylin- :ders imay beladjusted .transversely of 'the mafchine so asito'positionthemainvariousspaced re- '.lation with respect to eachother, thecylinders.bein'g-slidable'longitudinally with respect to the tubular :elementformaking'o'f suchfadjustments. The :cylinders L11 zare 'directlyassociated vwith 'tubular .nelements `13, :14, and :l5 `which arearranged :in :telescoping relation, as shown most tclearly inFig f2. Theytelescoping `elements 13, 14, and l5 aresupported by thebearingelements 9fiassociated ywith the anglefbearny Sat `the -rear of"themachinefand because of .the telesceping arrangement thereof theassociatedcylinders ll may be adjusted transversely of the machine so:as to locate` said-cylinders :in Avarious spaced relations..Inadjusting the-cylindersf-i1,*ordinarily the intermediate .cylinder:willfremain stationary :and the two outer cylinders will be adjustedtransversely of the machine toward and from said intermediate cylinder.The telescoping tubular elements 13, 14, and 15 are maintained in theirproper positions transversely of the machine by a pin 15', which isextended through apertures formed in the walls of said tubular elements.These apertures are located in various positions so that the tubularelements may be iixed in various positions to which they have beenadjusted. The cylinders associated with the tubular element 12 areprovided with like means for maintaining them in various positions.

The means for attaching the Various cylinders 16 and 11 to the tubularelements 12, 13, 14, and l5 includes in association with each'individual cylinder an upright element 16 which preferably is of channelcross-section, 'as shown Each element 16 is attached in any in Fig. 9.suitable manner to the tubular element 12, 13, 14, or 15 with which itis associated, the manner of ."i-ttacliing` said upright elements tosaid tubular elements preferably including suitable straps 17 which aresecured to the upright elements and surround the tubular elements. Theupright elements 16 are maintained in their proper perpendicularpositions by suitable tie rods 18 comprised of telescoping tie rodsections, which render said tie rods adjustable as to length. Suchadjustable tie rods are necessary because of theV adjustable arrangementof the cylinders transversely of the machine. The straps 17 associatedwith the two outer cylinders `11 are fixed tothe associated tubularelements, while the straps associated with the cylinders li) and theintermediate cylinder 11 are slidably mounted on the associated tubularelements.

Hingedly attached to each of the upright elements 16 through theinstrrmientality of suitable associated hinge kelements 19 is a member20 which, in the normal use of the machine, is arranged in a verticalposition, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, and 9. Each member 20 hasassociated with it one of the cylinders 10 or 11. Preferably each member20 is :of substantially channel-shape in cross section, as shown in Fig.9, and at the upper and lower ends thereci side plates 21 are securedvto the opposite side walls of said members 26. The side plates 21 arepreferably oi tapered shape, and at their outer ends overlap theassociated cylinder slightly. Each member includes also a bottom wall 22and a top wall 23 which constitute rigid parts of said member. Fasteningdevices 19 secure the members 20 to the elements 16.

The cylinders 10 andy 11 of the improved machine include each a suitableelongated barrel 24 provided with screw-threaded portions at itsopposite ends (Fig. 4), and these screw-threaded portions receiveannular iange elements 25 which are screwed thereon. The ria-ngeelements 25 have secured thereto outer fiange elements 26, suitablefastening devices 27" being employed for securing'the associated flangeelements 25 and 26 together. Each cylinder is attached to theassociatedmember 20 in a manner to permit said cylinder to move vertically to aslight degree with respect to said member 2 and the means foraccomplishing this` purpose comprises bolts 27 and 28 at the topand-bottom, respectively, oi the cylinder which guide the cylinderduring such movement.

The bolts 27 are extended through openings formed in the iiange elements25 and 26 at the top of the cylinder and pass through openings in thetop wall 23 of the member 20, as shown in Fig. 5. Also these bolts areextended a substantial distance above the top face of the top flangeelement 26, and each thereof is provided with a suitable washer 29 whichabuts against a nut 30 screwed on the upper end of the bolt. At thelower end of each bolt 27 an abutment in the form of a head portion or anut is provided which contacts with the lower face of the top wall 23 ofthe member 20. Interposed between the washer 29 ci each bolt 27 and thetop face of the flange element 26 of the associated cylinder is anexpansible coil spring v31 which exerts downward pressure against thecylinder. The bolts 28 at the lower end ci each cylinder are secured tothe flange elements 25 and 26 of said cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. Inother words, a shoulder 28 at the upper end of a lower reduced portion32 of each bolt contacts with the top face of the lower ange element 25of the cylinder, and a nut 33 is screwed on the lower screw-threaded endof said reduced portion 32 and contacts with the lower face of the lowerflange element 26, The upper portion of each bolt 28 passes through anaperture formed through the bottom wall 22 or the associated member 20,and an abutment 34 in the form of aY head portion or nut is located atthe upper end of the bolt. f

in View of the arrangement just described, it is obvious that eachcylinder may move vertically with respect tothe associated member 26. Itis also plain that the coil springs 3l resist upward movement ofthecylinders and tend to maintain said cylinders in their loweredpositions.

Arranged for reciprocatory movement within each cylinder 10 and l1 is apiston 35 which has associated with it a tubular clement 36 (Fig. fi)that entends downwardly from said piston. The piston comprises amainbody portion 36 which is provided with a central opening 37 throughwhich the tubular element 36 extends, said opening having a flared upperportion 38 which receives a correspondingly shaped upper portion 39 ofthe tubular element 36. a top element 40 which is secured to the mainbody portion 36 of the piston by suitable fastening devices 41, and saidtop element is provided with a plurality of apertures 42 whichcommunicate with the ,passageway through the tubular element 36. Themain body portion is provided withan annular flange portion 43 at thelower face thereof, `and the top element is provided with acorresponding portion which is in vertical aline-` ment with respect tosaid annular iiange portion 43.- Interposed between said portions oi thebody portion and the top element of the piston is a plurality of annularpack'mg rings 44 which serve to prevent unnecessary leakage of iiuidpast the piston 35.

The piston includes j lll) At the `lower end of each cylinder the flange'l terial referred to is compressed about the tubui;

lar element by a gland 48 which is screwed into the cavity 46, whereby afluid-tight joint is provided at ythe vpoint where the tubular elementpasses through the opening 45. The gland 48 at its lower end is providedwith a cavity 49 as shown The tubular ele- 'liti inwoners nFig. 4 intowhich the lower endportion of the tubular .element 3G .isdrawn when thepiston is in the upper part ofthe cylinder. The lower end .portionofthetubularelernent is internally screwthreaded and said screw-threaded.portion `re- .ceivesthe screw-threaded .upper end portio-nof ahead or.jet .element 5.9. By providing screw- :threaded` means ior 'attachingthe head v50 4'tothe lower endor". the associatedtubular element 36,saidhead is rendered readily removable, and this arrangement is animportant feature of the pres- '.ent invention, as will presently morefully appear.

As illustrated inostclearly in'Figs. .4 and-5, the machine includesmeans for indicating the location of the headc'oi .each cylinder. In.other words, itis essentialin the operation of themachine that theoperator know to what depth `the heads 5G have penetrated the ground,.and this information is given by the `position of theweig'hts 5l, oneof which is shown in'Fig. I5. AEach of the weights referred to isarrangedfor vertical movenient within one civ the members 20,` and eachweight is attached tc one end of a flexible .element 52 which extendsover a pulley 53 mounted at the tcp of the associated cylinder, andpasses through an opening formed in the flange element 2S oi saidcylinder into the'cylinder. vThe endof the Flexible elenient 52 withinthe cylinder vis loosely attached to the piston throughtheinvst-rurnentaiity of a'bolt pli-.which ismountedin an opening formedin the 'topelernent 4.0 .of said piston so as to permit saidy bolttofniove --vertically with respect'to said top element. *The innerend ofthe flexible elernent 52 is attachedftosaidrbolt and the bolt isprovided with abutments at'its opposite ends in the iorin of a headMaand Ya nut 54h which. liinit'niovement of the bolt lwithrespect to thetop element 26. vBecause of the lost motion at the bolt 54 of eachcylinder, the head'50 ci such cylinder inayrnove downwardly `to thesurface ci the ground before the associated weight Y5l starts to move.

in this way only the actual distance of penetration of thehead in theground is indicated by the movement of the weight asthe weight is notmoved during the preliminary movement or the piston before the lowerendo-f vthe head 5G contacts with the ground.

'The top ilange element 26 of eachzof the cylinders land l1 is providedwith apassageway 55 into the cuter end-portion of which-a nipple v56 isscrewed (Fig. 4i) the inner end of said'passagecommunicating with theinterior of thexcylinder. Also the lower flange element 26- of .eachcylinder is provided with a similarpassageway' 5'? which conininiicatesat its inner-end with the interior oi the cylinder and has a nipple 58screwed into its outerV end portion. In likemanner the gland providedwithl an openingf59 crined in the wail of 'the cavity 49 thereofwh-ichreceives a nipple 60,

.The nipple 5S of each cylinderhasassociated `with it a valve dl. Thehousing of thisvalve :is `preferably screwed on saidnipple, :as shownmost ciearly in i, the opposite'endof saidvalve `housing having a nippleY62 screwed '.thereinto which communicates through utheyalve housing thenipple 58. The interior of the .valve 'homing is divided by a.partition-.632mm aicavity de, which communicates directly withthenipple and a cavity 55, which communicates directly l the nipple 62,and these vcavities are placed in communication with each other byanopening t6 formed inthe partition 63. Eachlvalvelinciudes also a valvehead 67 which is'rnounted on a valve stein 68, said valve stenrbeingsup-.portedrrbyfanzelementn l xed to; the element 20 of:the-.associatedcylinder. ,The valve stern is extendedithrough anopening. formed Yin theele- 'ment '570, iandjcoil springs-7l and 72 :arearranged above and below 'said element, .as shown mostclearly.in'Fig.-4. Thecoil springl'contacts at its upper end with thelower face of the element .7G-.and ateitslower end with awasher -73mounted on the valve stem :68, while the coil spring 72 contacts atvitstwwcr end Awith the upper face of the .element 7,0 .and at its upperend with a washer ."Ififthat Acontacts with'a nut 75 screwed on'the4upper .end-.of the lvalve stem G8. In view of this farrangenientitisobvious that thevalve stem 68 :is supported .by the Velement` 70 insuch manner that it is capable of slight Vertical movement with ,respectthereto.

It has been heretofore stated-herein that the cylindersoftheimproved-'machine arecapable of :slight-vertical' movement -with respectto the associatedelements 20, andi because the valves .6l are secured toand move `with the cylinders, said Valves are subject to like movement.It is plain, therefore, Vthat whenthe cylinders aremoved vertically ina'manner'tobe'hereinafter set forth, the hous- AfI1o.fI-`.ig.-3:Iillustrate theyalve unit .associated e.

,with one ofthecylinders, andzbecause each cylinderis provided 4withalike valveunit, description .offthe'unit:illustrated will sufficeforall of the units.

vThevalve-.unit.ofieachcylinderincludes an in- .let conductor :'77'towhichza hose or other suitable conducting element 'lfiis attached .forthepurpose `of "conducting y'water :trema suitable -source'of supply tothe inlet'conductor 77. The inlet conductorfl'lris:connected by asuitable tting 'Z9 to' yconductors .80=i.and .Sl which-extend inopposite .directionsfrom 'theinlet -conductor'77, this fitting :"19 also'having :connected .to it a conductor 82 vwhich connects .the .unit-illustrated iin Fig. 3 to fthe nextf adjacent unit (not shown) servesas 1;;1

aninlet conductor `forthellatterunit. The conjductorl 80fhas connectedtoit through the instrulmentalityaof ta suitablertting -83 a nipple 84,and .thisfnipple is connected, vpreferably by means oi`asuitableiiexible.conductor 85, tothe nipple 56 .atthe upper end oftheassociated cylinder. Also, .the upperend of theconductor Si)is'connected-by 'a suitable tting'xto a Aconductor S7 which conductcr.atits .opposite end is .connected to the .nipple-,60' associatedwiththe gland e8 of the asso- 1' ciated cylinder.

f The :conductor 8l: isxprovided 'withk a fitting' 8S which 'hasconnected theretciailexible conductor 81%. `saidiiiexiblecconductorffi:being connected f at yits-.opposite end to .the nipple d2 shown most loutlet conductor through which water passes which is being conductedaway from the machine. The valve unit includes Ya by-pass 92 which isconnected to the fitting 88 and to a tting associated with the dischargeconductor 91 whereby said discharge conductor is arranged in communication with the conductor 8l through said bypass.

The valves of the valve unit illustrated in Fig. 3 include a valve 93associated with the conductor 80 and located between the ttings 79 and83, and a valve 94 associated with said conductor 80 and located betweenthe iittings 83 and 86. Also valves 95 and 96 are associated with theconductor 8l, the valve 95 being located between the tting 'i9 and thefitting 88, while the valve 96 is located between said tting 88 and theiitting 99. Finally, the by-pass 92 has a valve 97 associated therewith,as shown clearly in Fig. 8.

In the operation thereof, my improved apparatus is transported to thelocation where it is to be used and the cylinders are raised to theirperpendicular positions and are adjusted transversely of the machine soas to set said cylinders in the desired spaced relation. The various tierods are then secured in place so as to fix the cylinders in thepositions to which they have been adjusted. The supporting structure 76which supports the valve units is then elevated and secured in piace bythe supporting elements associated therewith, after which the variousflexible conductors which are associated with said valve units areconnected to the elements with which they are associated.

With the parts referredy to assembled as described, the machine is readyfor use and the first operation (after water has been introduced belowthe pistons) is to open the valves 93 of .the various valve units. Thiswill cause water which is conducted from a sourceof supply to the lvalveunits by the conductor 78 to pass through the conductors 80 of thevarious valve units and through the conductors 85 leading from saidconductors 89 to the upper ends of the various cylinders. At this timethe valves 9e and 95 are closed so that no water may pass through saidvalves. Part of the water which passes into the upper. ends of thecylinders acts against the upper faces of the pistons within saidcylinders, and the remainder of said water passes downwardly through thetubular elements 36 associated with the cylinders and is discharged fromthe orifices at the lower ends or the heads 59 located at thev lowerends of said tubular elements. The pressurev ot the Vwater exertedagainst the uppery faces of the pistons will force said pistons to rnovedownwardly through the cylinders, such downward movement beingmaintained at a slow and continuous rate of speed by manipulation of thevalves 93,r 96, and 97. The :dow of the water as just described isindicated by the solid arrows in Fig. 3. As the pistons are moveddownwardly as described, the heads 59 which are pointed as shown in Fig.Il are forced slowly and continuously through the ground, while water isbeing discharged from the orifices 50 thereof, with the result that theground through and adjacent to which the heads pass will be thoroughlysaturated.

During downward movement of the pistons as described, any water whichpreviously was introduced into the cylinders below the pistons, as andfor a purpose to be hereinafter described, will be forced out of thecylinders by the downwardly moving pistons, said water moving throughthe passageways 57, valves 6l, conductors 89, and either through theconductors 8l or by-passes 92 to the discharge conductor 91, by whichsaid water will be conducted to the source of disposition thereof. TheWater which passes from the conductors 89 to the conductors91 iscontrolled either by the valves 96 or the valves 97, the valves v-97being employed to control passage of such water when slow movement ofthe pistons is desired and the valves 96 being used when more rapidmovement of said pistons is wanted. The valves 96 and 97 are, of course,constructed so as to obtain the difference in speed of movement of thepistons referred to- When the pistons reach their lowermost points ofmovement and itis desired to reverse the direction of travel thereof thevalves 93 are closed and the valves 95 are opened. This will cause Waterto pass from the inlet conductor 78, through portions of the conductors81, and through the conductors 89 and valves 6i into the lower ends ofthe cylinders. At this time the valves 96 and 97 are closed and thevalves 94 are open. The water which is forced into'the lower ends of thecylinders will move the pistons upwardly, with the result that the waterabove the pistons which does not pass downwardly through the tubularelements 36 will be forced through conductors 85. This last-mentionedwater then passes through the valves 94 and flows through the conductors87 to the cavities 49 within the glands 48 into which cavities Vsaid'water is discharged to wash mud from the upwardly moving tubularelements 36 and from the heads 50 `associated therewith. In Fig. 3 thedirection of flow of the water when the piston is moving upwardly isindicated by the dotted arrows.

' It is important to note that when the tubular elements 36 and heads 50are forced downwardly through the ground there is no washing away of theground by the water discharged from the oriiices 50 of said heads.Instead, the heads 50 are forced cleanly through the ground, with theresult that the walls of the holes made by the heads will contactclosely with the outer faces of the tubular elements 36, whereby theportions of the'ground adjacent to said outer faces of the tubularelements will serve as stuffing boxes which will prevent kupwardmovement of the water discharged by the heads 50 through the holesproduced by said heads. Also, as already stated, the movement of theheads 5D is continuous, hence there will be no washing away of theground by said water, but rather a gradual saturation of the ground asthe heads 50 pass downwardly therethrough.

It frequently happens that the heads 50 during downward movement thereofencounter unyielding objects below the surface of the ground, rocks forinstance, which are suiicient to arrest downward movement of the heads.When this happens the water pressure will build up above the pistonsuntil the cylinders are moved upwardly with respect to the members 20 bywhich they are supported, the bolts 27 and 28 permitting such movement.This will cause the housings of the valves 61 to move to elevated pointswhere the valve heads 67 Ywill close the openings 66 and thereby preventpassage of water through said valve housings. Thus the pistons will belocked by the water trapped above and below same in stationarypositions, and the water being discharged from the orifices of the heads50 will saturate the ground around the obstruction until vit may bedisplaced by the heads. When the obstruction yields because oi thethorough saturation of the ground thereabout, the weight of thecylinders plus the downward exertion of the coil Mil springs 31 willcause the cylinders to move downwardly to 'thei-r'normal positions, whenthe valves 61 `will again'be "in 'opened position andthenor'- nialopatbn ofthe apparatus yvvilfbeV resumed; Ah' importantr vfeature 'inconnection with 'the VilV 61 lethal; if desired they may be Openedreversing thedirectionof flow oi the" 'water that is,by"'causiiig'wat`erto vfloiifas" indicated bythe arrowsin Fig. fihishwill have the effect of moving the valve heads lupiv'adly against thetension ofthe coil"springs 71 'so as to open the Valvs;

`When particularly deep holes are to be pro-r duced the apparatusisoperated inthe manner described tofproduce holes ofthe usual'depth.The pistons are then movedrupywardlyso as to withdraw the tubularelements 3`6"of the pistons and the associated' heads from'th'e holes',after which the heads are lremoved iromlthe'tubular elements and vthecylinders are swung or'theii' hinges 19 to the position 'shown'in'Fig`9, wherein designates a hole'. additional length of the tubular elementwith a head fixed to the lower endY thereof is then introduced into eachhole and this additionalV length oftubula'r elementis screwed on thelower end of the tubular element 36 associated with the piston after thecylinder has lheen returned to ,its prope'rpositio'n above the hole7whereupon the operation ofthe machine may be Continued the usuel manner!Preferably I provide the improved machine with a suitable settling basin10p, so that rocks and other foreign matter is prevented from passinginto the conductors of the machine. Also, the fact that the heads areremovable permits of these heads being removed for cleaning purposes ifsmall particles of foreign matter do find their way into said heads.

In order that the operator of the machine may know at all times whenwater is owing through the conductors 85 to the upper ends of thecylinders, I provide indicating devices 101 (Fig. 6) which areassociated with the fittings 83 of the various valve units. This devicecomprises a disk 102 mounted on a stem 103, said stem being supportedfor rotary motion, as shown in Fig. 6. The stem 103 has xed thereto anelement 104 provided with spiral vanes 105. When water is passingthrough the tting 83 said water will act on the spiral vanes 105 of theelement 104 in a manner to rotate the stem 103 and the disk 102, andsuch rotation of the disk will indicate to the operator that water isflowing to the upper ends of the cylinders.

When it is desired to transport the machine from place to place theflexible conductors and the tie rods are detached and the cylinders areadjusted inwardly and are moved to horizontal positions, as shown inFigs. 7 and 8, said cylinders during such movement being pivoted aboutthe tubular elements 12, 13, 14, and 15 by which they are supported. Themachine may then be transported along roads without fear that thedimensions thereof would be objectionable to the authorities havingcharge of trafiic moving over said roads. In moving the cylinders tohorizontal positions the tubular elements associated with the two outercylinders 11 rotate with the cylinders, while in the case of theintermediate cylinder 11 and the cylinders 10 the associated tubularelements are maintained stationary and the cylinders rotate about saidtubular elements.

It sometimes happens that when obstructions such as rocks areencountered below the surfac of the ground, as already explained, theweight of the cylinders plus the exertion of the springs Slwillnot'displ'ace said obstructions after the ground about the obstructionshas been thorough- 1y saturated. Foi" this contingency provide means foropening the valves 61 by hand, so 'as topermitwater pressure above 'thepistonsto aid in forcingv theheads 50 downwardly so as to displace theobstruction. The means referred to includes rods105 `which are pivotallyconnected to the elements associated `with the various valvesGl'andwhich extend to the position of the operator, where theyareprovided with grip por-- tions 106'.` The elements 70 are eachpivotedat 107;v and when the rods'106 are pulled longitudihally by' theoperator, said elements will be moved about'their' pivots' so as to drawthe valve membersSZ "away 'from their seats; The water passingfthro'ughthe con .Actors 85 to the tops ofthe cylinders will /thenaid in forcing'the y'heads 50 downwardly so as to displace the obstructions;

To limit downward moveinent'oi the valvemem'- bers 67 when they aremanually operated sto-ps 70 are provided-` In order to rmaintain thepistons 35 their elevated positions when all water pressure is re-`moved from the cylinders, I'provide caps 1Q8 y(Fig. 4)y which arescrewed on the lower ends of thel glands 48 and provide abutments withwhich the heads `50v Contact so asto prevent downward movement of'saidheads; i ".I :claim: l

1. A'. p'uddling machine comprising a supporting structure,` faplurality ofcylinders associated with said supporting structure, pistonsarranged within 'said rcylindersand having ground-penetrating meansassociated therewith, means for conducting and controlling passage ofpiston-actuating water to and from said cylinder, and means whereby saidcylinders may be adjusted relatively to each other and transversely ofthe puddling machine, the last-mentionedmeans including telescopingelements by which said cylinders are supported.

2. A puddling machine comprising a supporting structure, a plurality oicylinders associated with said supporting structure, pistons arrangedwithin said cylinders and having ground-penetrating means associatedtherewith, means for conducting and controlling passage oipiston-actuating water to and from said cylinder, and means whereby saidcylinders may be subjected to pivotal movement and adjusted relativelyto each other and transversely of the puddling machine, thelast-mentioned means including telescoping elements by which saidcylinders are supported.

3. A puddling machine comprising a supporting structure, a plurality oicylinders associated with said supporting structure, pistons arrangedwithin said cylinders and having ground-penetrating means associatedtherewith, means rfor conducting and controlling passage ofpistonactuating water to and from said cylinders, means whereby saidcylinders may be adjusted relatively to each other and transversely ofthe puddling machine, the last-mentioned means including telescopingelements by which said cylinders are supported, and adjustable means forsecuring said cylinders in their normal operating positions.

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4. A puddling machine comprising a supporte -Y piston, means wherebysaid cylinder may be subjected to straight line movement with respect toa portionl of said supporting structure', a valve arranged for operationin response to straight line movement of said cylinder, and means forconducting and controlling passage of pistonactuating Water into andfrom said cylinder.

5. A puddling machine comprising a supporting structure, a cylinderassociated with said supporting structure, a piston arranged forreciprocatory movement within said cylinder, groundpenetrating meansassociated with said piston, means whereby said cylinder may besubjected to straight line movement with respect' to a portion of saidsupporting structure, means which tends to subject said cylinder tostraight line movement in one direction, a valve arranged for operationin response to straight line movement of said cylinder, and means forconducting and controlling passage of piston-actuating Water into andfrom said cylinder. j i

6. A puddling machine comprising a supporting structure, a cylinderassociated with said supporting structure, a piston arranged forreciprocatory movement within said cylinder, ground-penetrating meansassociated with said piston, means whereby said cylinder mayY besubjected to straight line movement with respect to a portion of saidsupporting structure, means which tends to subject said cylinder tostraight vline movement in one direction, a valve arranged for operationin response to straight line movement of said cylinder, and yieldablemeans for conducting and controlling passage of pistonactuating waterinto and from said cylinder.

7. A pudcumg machine cmprising a supporting structure, a cylinderassociated with said supporting structure, a piston arranged forreciprocatory movement within said cylinder, groundpenetrating meansassociated with said piston, means whereby said cylinder may besubjected to straight line movement with respect to a portion of saidsupporting structure, a valve arranged for operation in response tostraight line movement of said cylinder, and means for conducting andcontrolling passage of piston-actuating water into and from saidcylinder, said valve comprising a valve housing movable with saidcylinder and with respect to a valve element which opens and closes saidvalve housing to passage of water therethrough.

8, A puddling machine comprising a supporting structure, a cylinderassociated with said supporting structure, a piston arranged forreciprocatory movement within said cylinder, groundpenetrating meansassociated with said piston, means whereby said cylinder may besubjected to straight line movement with respect to a portion of saidsupporting structure, a valve arranged so as to be closed in response tostraight line movement of the cylinder in one direction, means formanually opening said valve when same has been closed by movement of thecylinder, and means for conducting and controlling passage ofpiston-actuating water into and from Y' said cylinder.

STEPHEN R. BLACKWELL.

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